Extraordinary Desserts

The evening was cool. Despite the overcast skies, the night held an unfamiliar heat that glazed over the, nonetheless, buzzing nightlife of sweet and complete, San Diego. Everywhere, lights strung around old buildings, down in Little Italy, and within the languorous apartment complexes which connected the series of crisscrossing one way streets of the downtown regions.

One way streets went their way, two way streets proved more difficult, and J-walkers ran rampant wherever they chose to. The amazing tides of excitement and wonder floated through the air, past the busy tourists, students on vacation, and crowds of dizzying bodies swarming the streets.

It wasn't busy. No, not one sidewalk proved too squeezed, not one foot was stepped upon by accident, and no words of anger passed between strangers. Profanity and curses were flung left and right, but none of which in a malicious manner. The downfall of man by means of the tongue already spreading, society accepted it with pained slowness. No, it wasn't busy.

"Extraordinary," Podge smiled, removing the metal fork from her lips and replacing it on the table, tilted by the brim of the plate. Indeed, she had reason for so obvious a declaration, for she sat with Buggy, Gem, and Emma at a table on the outside of the lovely desserts shop.

Having been in the area, Podge joined her two friends in the celebration of another successful year of life, passing and fading into the abyss of memories and well wishes. Buggy, having been with her at the time, agreed to join and the quartet sat thoroughly enjoying the cakes that stood proud in the melted chocolate plated before them.

Gem smiled a knowing smile and poked at her slab of assaulting sweetness. "I knew you'd fully appreciate it, being a lover of desserts," she stated as she dragged her fork around and lifted it, with a piece of heaven, to her lips.

Emma, on the other hand, managed to wave down a waitress and ask, sweetly, as she always did, regardless of what words came from her lips, "One vanilla macadamia nut coffee, decaf, please." The lady nodded and hurried off, already on errand. Turning to her slice, she picked up her fork and confessed, "I've been having a strange craving for raspberries lately."

Podge, having never taken a liking to the odd tasting fruit, frowned, "The sauce looks too sweet."

Gem added, in playful tones, "It reminds me of 'Twilight' and the horrific writings in that saga."

Podge let out a breath of laughter as Emma nodded, rocking as she chuckled daintily, "Why, yes, it does, doesn't it?"

"That movie was horrible though. Did I tell you," Gem shook her head, "I laughed so many times, the younger girls in the theatre hated me. Remember?" she prompted Podge, who voiced her agreement after taking a long sip of water.

"Yes, that was quite the event. I was sure I'd either fall asleep or walk out," Podge admitted, replacing her glass of water on the table.

Emma smiled, and cut a neat piece and stopped, her eyes wide as she regarded Buggy, who seemed to be attempting to unscrew his chocolate truffle flower from his slice. Being the only male, the ladies expected him to feel out of place and quite uncomfortable when faced with so many delectable treats of the sweetest nature, and were surprised to find him quite excited and taken by the dessert shop.

Gem also noticed his ministrations, but it was Emma who asked, "Do you need help? What are you trying to do?"

To this, Buggy nodded, "Can you hold the cake down? I want to get the chocolate truffle off."

Gem sighed, "Too sweet for you, huh? It's alright, most guys don't like chocolate."

At this remark, with Emma's fork holding the slice down, Buggy lifted the chocolate chunk of truffle from his cake and frowned, "What are you talking about? I love chocolate!" And, without another word, he proved it by taking in the entire chunk, and smiled as he chewed.

Gem and Emma sat speechless, but Podge nodded, "Oh, that's right. Quite the feminine one, enjoying sweats and candy." Having seen Buggy in his normal atmosphere, Podge recalled countless situations where Buggy proved not the normal stale male, but the sensitive souled rebel. And that made her smile.

No, there was no romantic nature between them. They had been traveling together because of the nature of their work. Being with Gem and Emma was a plus because both girls knew the area quite well. And as for Emma, well, she was quite firmly spoken for. Buggy was quietly taken, as well. Gem was quite comfortable with the single life she led and Podge was enthralled by a pop figure in hip hop society. However, none of that mattered. This was only to illustrated that they were all friends, and like all friends; all learned more of the others with each passing moment.

Gem recovered first and sighed, "You should have at least let me take a picture of that."

Emma nodded, "I think that's the first time I watched a guy, or anyone, eat it in one bite."

Podge, however, patted Buggy's back, quite good-naturedly, nodding in approval, "Good job, Bug."

Buggy eyed Gem's chocolate truffle and smiled, "Are you going to eat yours?"

"No, go ahead, as long as you let me take a picture of you before you eat it," Gem smiled, pulling her digital camera from her bag.

Buggy smiled, "No problem!"

Buggy detached the truffle from the cake and posed, happily. Gem took the picture and Emma watched, wide-eyed, as Buggy devoured the second truffle. After which, he declined any more, saying that two was enough for him.

Podge sat back, deep in thought, as Gem told the history of 'Extraordinary' and of the original shop. When she mentioned the drive-by shooting, Buggy was shocked.

"People really kill for chocolate?" he asked, bewildered.

To this, Gem, Emma, and Podge shared a good laugh. Podge looked from Gem to Emm, and then to the slice of cake that sat before her. Her two friends in such a different environment was amazing and she loved it. She wished she had come sooner and discovered more. Were it not for work, she would have greatly liked to visit the cliffs.

But as the evening came to an end, she stared at the small candle that flickered in the light breeze and repeated to herself, "Extraordinary."